MARTIS PEAK

Tahoe National Forest

May 29, 1931: "Three patrolmen already have been placed in the Lake Tahoe region, the Martis Peak lookout is now on the job, and it is expected by June 1 to have practically all of the crews at work for the summer. Activities of the rangers and lookouts are starting about two weeks ahead of normal." (Nevada State Journal)

May 17, 1932: "With the beginning of the dry summer season forest rangers are preparing to resume their posts in the Tahoe national forest. Frank Maher, veteran forest ranger who has been stationed at the Martis peak lookout station for the past 15 years, will take up his post there within a week or two." (Nevada State Journal)

July 5, 1935: "A small fire near the Truckee river between Boca and the Fly Casting club was put out yesterday by Frank Maher and other rangers from Martis peak lookout station. A small pump from Truckee was used. The fire was believed to have started from a fire made by fishermen on the bank of the river. Campers and fishermen were again warned yesterday by Maher to be careful in starting fires. A small patch of brush burned." (Nevada State Journal)

September 26, 1936: "How a United Airlines pilot signaled a forest ranger that a fire was burning between Snow Valley and Marlette lake east of Lake Tahoe recently was reported today by DeWitt Nelson, forest supervisor of the Tahoe national forest, with headquarters at Nevada City. Frank Maher, Martis Peak lookout on the Tahoe national forest, noticed United Airline's west-bound plane no. 5 circling his peak last Thursday, and unusual procedure for planes, which usually keep to a straight course. Within a few minutes Maher received a report from District Ranger Hodgson at Big Bend ranger station that Pilot Greer had spotted the fire in a region which could not be seen by Maher from his lookout. "This illustrates the wonderful cooperation and help the passenger planes are giving the forest service," Forest Supervisor Nelson said. "A remarkable coincidence," Nelson continues, "is that on the very same trip, Pilot Greer discovered smoke at the south end of Long lake in the vicinity of the Devil's Peak country. This happened also to be a "blind" from any forest lookouts and the smoke would not have been discovered by them until it had risen above surrounding peaks." (Reno Evening Gazette)

August 28, 1939: "An area of about an acre was burned over and 26 spot fires extinguished shortly after Waddles Maher, the Martis Peak lookout, had discovered it. This blaze was a 'duff' fire in the pine needles and forest growth of many years' falling, with old rotten 'punk' logs increasing the hazard." (Nevada State Journal)